Historically, valerian has been a non-scientific resource for relief from anxiety and insomnia.1 Detrimental effects of FDA approved medications for these symptoms have many professionals questioning whether the most effective and safe resource is available through a supplemental approach. This has led to the investigation of the true effectiveness of the valerian root and its impact on its subjects.
In treating anxiety, a peer-reviewed study revealed there was no significant difference between valerian and placebo.2 Valerian was compared to Diazepam using the STAI-Trait scale, revealing that Diazepam produced superior results, yet side effects were similar for both.2 No other research could be found on the effects of valerian as a treatment for anxiety. That combined with the results of the aforementioned study led me to conclude that this would not be a safe or effective means for treating anxiety. I would not recommend valerian as a treatment for anxiety.
The studies done on the effectiveness and time constraints of valerian as an insomnia medication have reached varied and conflicting results. Though some studies have found valerian to have a subjective mild sedative effect in improving sleep,3 others have found there to be no objective statistical significance between valerian and placebo.5 Similarly, some research revealed that valerian reduced objective sleep latency when provided for an acute period of 3 days,4 while one study discovered that it takes about 2-3 weeks before valerian effectively begins to work.1 The latency period becomes a limiting factor in the effectiveness of the research assessing valerian, for not all studies spanned 14 days or more.5
The information is thus questionable as to the true effective...
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...ients suffering chiefly from insomnia, but I would consider prescribing it to patients with rheumatoid arthritis or similar illnesses as a mild sleep aid.
Works Cited
. Larzelere MM, Wiseman P. Anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Prim Care. 2002;29(2):339.
2. Miyasaka LS, Atallah AN, Soares BGO. Valerian for anxiety disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006(4):CD004515.
3. Balderer G, Borbély, A.A. Effect of valerian on human sleep. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1985;87(4):406-409.
4. Taibi DM, Bourguignon C, Taylor AG. Valerian use for sleep disturbances related to rheumatoid arthritis. Holist Nurs Pract. 2004;18(3):120-126.
5. Fernández-San-Martín MI, Masa-Font R, Palacios-Soler L, Sancho-Gómez P, Calbó-Caldentey C, Flores-Mateo G. Effectiveness of valerian on insomnia: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Sleep Med. 2010;11(6):505-511.
Sundaram to administer medication for the insomnia and depression, enough to last 6 – 8 weeks as the patient is not likely to get an appointment with the psychiatrist at Wellstone Behavioral Health for up to 6 – 8 weeks. Dr. Sundaram prescribed 30 10 mg of Ambien and 30 10 mg of Lexapro with 1 refill. The social worker gave the patient the prescriptions for the two medications and again encouraged the patient to call and register by phone at Wellstone Behavioral Health and get an appointment with the therapist as soon as possible to expedite the process in getting an appointment with the
useful in the relief of mild to moderate pain. It is also used as a cough remedy
The National Sleep Foundation describes sadness as an emotion experienced by humans in difficult times. Findings show that constant emotions are found in depression. Furthermore depression is not something which simply will disappear. Additionally, symptoms may reoccur throughout a person’s lifetime. Overall sleep and depressive illness can be a complex relationship. In general depression can bring about long term problems in sleep disorders stemming from depression. Sleep problems and risk factors may share biological factor and risk factors. These factors lead to important concepts discussed in the article such as insomnia and sleep apnea treatments strategies. Research has found people who have depression are more likely to develop insomnia and suffer from insomniatic symptoms. Some these symptoms include sleep maintenance insomnia, daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep (onset insomnia), and refreshing sleep. Justly researchers suggest depression development is high among those who have both onset insomnia and sleep maintenance insomnia. In 2006, the NSF polls focused on 11-17 ages in children. One of slee...
Sleep hygiene and stimulus control are non-medical treatments for insomnia that includes simple steps that may improve
350 million people around the world suffer from depression, which means 5% of the world’s population suffer from depression. Albizia is proven to help with this. Michael Tierra L.Ac., O.M.D., Founder of the American Herbalists Guild said that after giving patients with high stress levels for a short time like one day, the results are still very obvious. One of his case studies, a man 43 years of age had a long history of chronic episodes. After taking the Albizia for a several months, his depressive episodes were both rarely to be seen and much less severe than before. If this plant is used more widely as a treatment for depression, high-levels of stress and anxiety more people can improve their mental illness situation. Students can also benefit from this, as endless heaps of students have anxiety. The competition and pressure from school can give children and teens anxiety or depression at a shockingly young age. Not only does all this stress come from grades and schoolwork but also social norms and standards. If given the right safety warnings and precautions, this plant will relieve teens, parents, workers and many more of their emotional
Some of the herbs used in making sleepytime include chamomile, slippery Elm Bark, Valerian, Lavender and Lemon Balm. There is less scientific prove or evidence to show the effectiveness of these herbs in helping you sleep. However, many
St. John’s Wort is becoming increasingly popular mostly due to the lack of side effects. Other prescription antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil often produce effects like weight loss, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia. In a controlled study of St. John’s Wort, only 2.
...gh which cure of the disease can be found by using non-medication means; these include abstaining from excessive consumption of stimulating drugs such as caffeine and nicotine, exercise during early morning or at least brisk walk during early morning hours may prove to be extremely beneficial in preventing a person from suffering signs of insomnia. Avoid heavy and oily meals during night and in cases of hunger try to satisfy appetite requirements by having a high content carbohydrate meal. Along with all this there are also additional requirements that the person needs to keep in mind if he is becoming vulnerable to insomnia, this includes avoiding alcohol and increased exposure to sunlight. All these curative prevention strategies will definitely prove helpful in overcoming the adverse and life-disturbing ramifications caused by insomnia. (Szuba and Kloss, 2003)
The Beck Anxiety Inventory was designed by Aaron T. Beck and is self report scale that consists of 21 items. The items are short and straightforward, making it easy to read and comprehend. All items are related to anxiety and describe a symptom of anxiety that is rate on a four point likert scale according to severity. The answers range from 0-3 and the responses range from “not at all” to “severely; I could barely stand it” and all items are added for a total score. The instructions on the test ask for the respondent to “indicate how much you have been bothered by each symptom during the past week, including today, by placing an X in the corresponding space in the column next to each symptom” (Dowd, 2008). The assessment is intended for adolescents and adults and can be administered individually or in a group setting. An additional copy of the inventory test is also available in Spanish. It was originally created from a sample of 810 outpatients of that were predominately affected by mood and anxiety disorders and research on the original development is described as informative and thorough.
Herbal remedies have been used throughout the world for thousands of years and recently their use has become popularized in America. People tend to view herbal remedies as being safer then prescription drugs because they are believed not to contain chemicals or cause side effects. St. John’s Wort is an herbal remedy, which prevents the destruction of seratonin, a natural anti-depressant, is often used to treat depression. Due to the increasing interest it St John’s wort, as well as in other herbal remedies, there has been a great deal of research done recently in the effectiveness and safety of this herb in regards to depression.
The BAI consists of 21 descriptive statements of anxiety symptoms. The test taker indicates how often the symptoms have occurred within the last week. The scoring sheet has four columns which are rated on a 4-point scale with the following correspondence: Not at all = 0, Mildly = 1, Moderately = 2, Severely = 3. The test taker marks the appropriate colum...
Kales, A. (1972). The evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders : Pharmacological and psychological studies. In M. Chase (ed.)The Sleeping Brain. Los Angeles : Brain Information Service.
It is prescribed after many types of injury, illness, or disease, including amputations, arthritis, cancer, cardiac disease, neurological problems, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that as many as 14% of all Americans may be disabled at any given time. (n.d.)
National Institute of Mental Health. (2010). Treating anxiety disorders. NIH Medline plus, 5(3), 15-18. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall10/articles/fall10pg15.html
“Twelve Simple Tips to Improve Your Sleep.” (2009, Dec. 18). The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Healthy